Earlstone Manor

Earlstone Manor is a manor house dating probably to the late 14th century, with substantial alterations and additions in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. It was restored and further altered, with 16th-century features incorporated, in the late 20th century. The building is constructed of flint, cob, and rubble stone, but largely of pinkish brick in English or Flemish bond, with some tile hanging concealing a timber frame on the first floor. The roof is tiled, and there are brick stacks with clustered shafts.

The main range is two storeys with an attic, and is of irregular five and three-bay configuration. The three right-hand bays have the earliest roof timbers, while the left-hand section is probably early 16th century, with the rear elevation rebuilt in the late 17th century. A single-story 18th-century kitchen projects to the front right, with a three-bay wing attached to its right. A short two-storey 18th-century wing is located to the rear right, with a gabled stair on its return, and a two-bay late 20th-century extension that is in keeping with the design. Windows are small-pane wooden casements in the kitchen and service wing, with mostly 16-pane sash windows elsewhere, many of which are replacements. Some original 16th-century wooden windows have ovolo-moulded mullions, leaded casements, and decorative ironwork, with the others being copies of the original. The front elevation is irregular, with a tile-hung first floor and two attic gables. The entrance doorway is Tudor-arched, studded, and has a deep cornice on columns. Sash windows flank the door, and there are three first-floor windows above the door, with mullion windows at either end, and to the right-hand attic gable. The kitchen is under a hipped roof with a tall stack at the junction with the main range, masking an attic dormer.

Inside, numerous period features have been incorporated. On the ground floor, there are large scantling chamfered beams with stepped cyma stops, some old joists, imported panelling, and carved stone fireplaces. The kitchen retains a large brick fireplace with an iron crane and bread oven. A panelled early 18th-century stair hall has an open-well stair with a closed string, turned balusters, square newels, and a moulded handrail. The first floor has a timber-framed spine wall forming a rear corridor, and the end rooms have early 18th-century fireplaces with eaved architraves. One room contains 18th-century graffiti, including the date "1730" and the names "Mathew Dilar" and "John Smith". The rear elevation possesses a symmetrical appearance over five bays, with a moulded plinth, a plat band, a central gabled porch with a round-arched entrance, ashlar imposts, a keystone, kneelers, and coping. Windows are set within flat brick arches, and there is a blind window above the door.